Discover five fresh ways to decorate with bold blocks of blue – from painted walls to statement furniture and layered shades that add calm, character and edge.
COMPILED BY Gina Dionisio
Blue is having a major moment – as our latest curated edit in VISI #138 shows, this timeless hue brings instant elegance and edge to everything from furniture to fashion. ‘Blue Blocking’, the strategic overlapping of solid blocks of blue in all the shades of this soothing spectrum, is another way to incorporate the hue into your space. Here are five ways to “block” with blue in all its tantalising shades.
Paint
Paint is a quick and cost-effective way of introducing blue blocking into your scheme and makes a standout statement without the need to hang elaborate pieces of wall art. The key to getting the blue-blocking look right is to “think geometric” – a square of brilliant cobalt here, a triangle of electric indigo there. Blanket a whole feature wall in a single blue hue or highlight just, say, the rectangle of a door, keeping the accompanying scheme neutral and unfussy so as not to overwhelm the eye.
Blue on blue
Layered blocks of beguiling blue add dimensional interest to a space, especially when the chosen hues are kept to the same warm or cool spectrum of the palette. Warm blues, like indigo, denim or slate contain hints of red and, as such, they advance or come toward you, making a room feel cosier. On the other hand, cool blues, like cobalt, turquoise and ice blue, have yellow in them and tend to recede, which can help make a small space appear bigger.
Statement furniture
Resplendent in a deep, rich sapphire or, alternately, in a soothing powder blue, a large-scale furnishing item, such as a sofa, becomes the automatic focal point when inserted into a monochromatic scheme or offset by a backdrop of warm, complementary wood. Add a thin line of defining black or a geometric swatch of inky charcoal to make the colour truly sing, but keep these to a minimum so as not to detract from the impact of your big-ticket item.
Keep it simple
A single block of a beautiful hue is the commitment-phobe’s answer to decorating with blue. Forgo having to splash out on the whole sofa and, instead, opt for an inexpensive piece of wall art or a blue-fronted sideboard that can be changed as inclination dictates. Against a neutral backdrop of bleached wood floors or expansive white walls, a solitary pop of shimmering blue is as much a scene-stealer as a whole scheme curated around the colour.
Add a touch of turquoise
Harness the electric energy of intense aquamarine, where blue meets green, by using it in blocks – big or small. Bold and compelling, yet restful at the same time, it is a hue that works well in generous swathes over walls and furnishings, with just a hint of balancing white as a counterfoil. Alternatively, insert into a monochromatic scheme small pops of neon-bright turquoise – think a pair of identical scatters.
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